Bilge barrel



Aprifi M, 1936. H L HOYT zmwzs BILGE BARREL Filed June 25, 1954 '2 Sheets-Sheefll HI I 414/4 (441,41

Patented Apr. 14, 1936 PATENT OFFICE BILGE BARREL Hazen L. Hoyt, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application June 23, 1934, Serial No. 732,037

15 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid tight bilge barrels and to a method and apparatus for making the same.

A oyindrioal barrel so made as to be assembled with unskilled labor and without any substantial change in the size of the container due to temperature and moisture changes, has been described in my prior Patents 1,775,224, dated September 9, 1930 and 1,922,588 dated August 15,

1933. In barrels of this type it has been necessary to provide special means for reinforcing the sheet longitudinally by means of a metal insert or by means. of the stave slots being sinusoidally formed. In bilge type barrels there is no substantial problem of longitudinally reinforcing the staves to transmit end thrusts because the tapered stave shape is naturally adapted for the purpose. Such bilge barrels generally require the expense of a skilled cooper to assemble the same and when assembled, the exact size is difficult to predict due to temperature and humidity. changes cumulatively affecting the fit of the staves.

Under one view, the present invention has for its object to enable bilge barrels to possess the advantages in ease at assembly and certainty of size, that are possessed by the aforementioned cylindrical barrels of my prior patents. Heretofore bilge barrels have required expert labor to assemble and have not been adapted for shipment in knocked down condition fiat. Under another View this invention relates to and provides an answer as to how the advantages of cylindrical barrels in the aforementioned patents may be made available in bilge type. barrels. Owing to the staves of a bilge barrel being tapered, the fabrication of such barrels has not been adapted to the process and apparatus of my prior Patent 1,909,405 dated May 16, 1933, since this patent relates to the manufacture of staves having parallel edges capable of being simultaneously out with a gang of cutters. A way has now been devised for simultaneously cutting a number of staves for a bilge barrel.

Specifically these advantages are attained by moving cutters further into the sheet as they approach the end of the sheet, and this is done automatically in response to longitudinal travel between the cutters and the sheet. Instead of conical cutters, it is preferable to use a rotary 55 passage through a sheet of material.

Fig. 2 is a portion of the sheet after being cut to form the staves.

Fig. 3 represents one embodiment of this invention in which the cutters are retained at a fixed elevation but the work is given a bowed set longitudinally of the container being formed.

Fig. 4 shows a section through an end portion of a few of the staves.

Fig. 5 shows the cam for controlling the elevation of the cutters with respect to the work.

Fig. 6 shows one embodiment of this invention as a completed barrel.

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the construction of chime and head for the linings of metal barrels.

Fig. 8 shows a construction of a wood lined metal barrel suitable for use as a beer barrel, for example.

Fig. 9- shows a modified construction.

Fig. 10 shows a rotary cam mechanism for automatically controlling the height of the cutters.

A sheet of multi-ply wood It, is mounted on the bed of a machine so that the sheet may be moved relative to a gang of cutters, [2, each mounted on the shaft, H. The shaft, H, is preferably driven by a motor or by any other mechanism. In order to form the tapered end portions, l3, for the staves, a cam, I l, along which the shaft, l l, is moved, controls the height of the shaft. This is accomplished by having the shaft, ll, mounted in crossheads, I5, above the sheet, [6, to be cut.

The rotary cutters, I2, may be controlled in the depth of their cut by the rotary cam mechanism shown in Fig. 10. Here the rotary cam, ll, moves the bell crank lever arm, it, against the action of the spring, is, by cooperation of the roller, 20, on the lower end of this arm. The bell crank lever is'pivoted at 2|, and its other arm carries the shaft, II, on which the cutters, l2, are mounted. By having the cam, ll, properly shaped, the cutters, l2, will be automatically moved into the sheet as the end thereof, is approached.

In Fig. 3, the sheet, I6, is preferably made up of a large number of plies and is given a permanent bowed set longitudinally of the stave slots, whereby the desired contour of the finished barrel depends to some extent, upon the shape given to the preformed staves. The travel of the cutter deeply into the sheet of material, as the ends are approached, is possible in the device of Fig. 3 by having the cutters, l2, mounted at a fixed elevation with respect to the main body portion of sheet material. Owing to the set given the work, the desired contour of the barrel may be attained without raising or lowering the cutters, the increased penetration of the cutters into the work adjacent the ends of the stave slots necessarily resulting from the raised ends of the work as shown in Fig. 3. This permanent set given the sheet in Fig. 3 may be attained when the plies are being compressed together and the work support should be given a curvature corresponding to that desired for the work in Fig. 3. The work supporting platforms for the work during the cutting operations will have to be slotted to permit penetration of the circular saws in the embodiments of both Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 4 shows how the stave slots adjacent the ends are cut all the way through the sheet, whereas in the central portion of the stave slots the cutter does not penetrate far enough into the sheet of material to separate the staves and they are connected in this central portion by flexed stave material after the manner of the stave slots shown in Fig. 6 for example, of my prior Patent 1,775,224. In other words the barrel shown in Fig. 6 of this case has the staves disconnected from one another in the tapered end portions, but in the cylindrical central portion the staves are connected by the flexed stave material owing to the cutter not cutting entirely through the sheet, in this part of the barrel. Instead of the finished container being of the shape illustrated in Fig. 6, it Will be understood that by giving the stave slots a different shape resulting from having the cutters pass into the work at a different rate with respect to their longitudinal movement, that the resulting tapered portion of the barrel may be of diiTerent shape. It is also possible in the embodiments of either Figs. 1 or 3 to have the central portion of the stave slots of non-uniform depth so that the central portion of the barrel may be gradually curved longitudinally instead of being cylindrical. When the sheet of Fig. 2 is flexed around barrel heads, the hoops or bands, 22, bind the end portions of the staves whereas the intermediate hoops adjacent the cylindrical portion of the barrel where the staves are connected, serve to protect the flexed stave material from being split. The outside of the flexed stave material connecting the staves in the cylindrical portion of Fig. 6, is indicated by the numeral 23.

Fig. 8 shows how one of the bilge barrels, made up of ply-wood, 24, as described above, may cooperate with a steel outer casing, 26, to constitute a liner therefor. The wooden heads, 25, are separately formed and joined to the sides by the beveled joint illustrated in order that the outer shell may be made in two halves, the wooden heads, 25, being inserted in each, and then the two halves of the casing slipped onto the wooden barrel and such halves then permanently secured together by some such means as the bent over joint 28. In this embodiment, the outer casing may be provided with rolling hoops, 21,

- and the metal chime end, 29, is also shaped as illustrated. Before the joint 28 is bent down, it will be understood that it extends radially out from the shell when the two halves are united and prior to bending down, the flange on the top half in Fig. 8, is longer than that on the bottom half so that this longer flange may be bent around the shorter flange before they are both bent down, as shown in Fig. 8. Other ways of uniting the two halves of the steel casing may be used. The steel heads of the casing cooperate with the wooden heads to hold them tightly in position, and the steel casing fits tightly about the lining. The lining is of such staunch material that it serves to reinforce this outer shell. It will be understood that bungs are generally necessary in an end and side portion of the barrel. Fig. 'l is a detail of the joint between the wooden head and lining as well as illustrating the chime construction, all as shown in Fig. 8. Since the casing fits tightly around the staves, no additional hoops or bands may be needed although if desired, such may be used in addition to the outer casing or before the outer casing is applied.

In Fig. 9 is shown a construction which is somewhat similar to that in Fig. 8. The preformed outer casing is of much less extent and does not cover the entire liner or wooden barrel. In this construction preformed hoops 30 are shaped as illustrated to provide a head or flange portion 31 contiguous the wooden head. -The chime 32 is as illustrated, extending beyond the croze slot 35, which slot is necessary because the outer casing is of short length. The metal hoop or band 33 may extend over whatever length of the staves is desired. In Fig. 9 this inner portion, 33 extends only a short distance back upon the staves, although it may extend much further. Additional hoops or bands, 34 have been illustrated. While the hoops, 30, 33 and 34 are each under pressure and therefore not likely to get out of place, yet, if desired, each may be secured by small nails or the like to the staves after such hoops have been placed under their tensional stress. Any bungs needed for the construction of Fig. 9 may be of the usual type employed with wooden containers.

Among the advantages of this invention may be mentioned the provision of a bilge barrel which is capable of being shipped flat and erected with unskilled labor and therefore at a low labor cost. Another advantage is the provision of a bilge barrel which may be subjected to temperature and humidity changes during shipment in knocked down condition and yet when assembled, is capable of being of the size intended, inasmuch as the ply-wood staves are not affected as much by such temperature and humidity changes as are the staves of an ordinary bilge barrel, Another advantage resides in the staves being connected so that any efiect of temperature and moisture change does not become cumulative in the staves. A bilge barrel, when made of heavy ply-wood construction is capable of shipping liquids and such construction is especially adapted for use with a preformed outer shell of metal. There is less expansion and. contraction and less tendency of the liner to separate from the metal when empty or when filled.

To lessen the danger of the fibers in the outer ply splitting in the portion at the base of the stave slot, this outer ply may be wet and applied with a water-proof adhesive. While the staves of a bilge barrel are tapered and thus adapted to transmit longitudinal thrusts from one stave to another, nevertheless if desired, the stave slots of this invention may be sinusoidally serrated or provided with a metal reinforce, as described in my previous patents, but the necessity for such reinforcement is not so important in bilge barrels on account of the wedge shape of the staves. The side edges of the staves may be treated with a water-proof-material in order to enhance the water-tight characteristics of this barrel. The inside of the barrel may be pitched or charred, and the ability of pitch to adhere to wood much better than it does to metal makes the present barrel admirably adapted as a liner for a metal barrel. As previously mentioned, the minimum change in size of this wooden barrel with changes in temperature and moisture is one of the most important characteristics in adapting it in cooperation with the steel barrel as a liner since the wood and steel may be more nearly 'in tight contact at all times. The use of a heavy liner under this invention permits the steel shell to be reinforced by the wood and therefore a lighter weight shell can be used. To

1 further insure tight contact between the wood and the metal, the inner plys may be arranged with their grain to give a longitudinal swelling to the staves in order to assist in holding the wood heads tightly in contact with the metal heads. To help provide a liquid-tight construction for the stave slots, these should not only be coated with a water-proof material, but, where a number of the inner plies are so arranged with their grain that they tend to expand across the staves, such expansion would assist in making the stave slots water-tight. The use of ply-wood lining within a metal shell affords an excellent and rugged barrel for beer, and the like. When a thermal insulation is desired in addition to that provided by the wood, one or more of the inner plys may be of any suitable thermal insulator such as balsa wood or other material, which is relatively porous and therefore a good thermal insulator. Such additional thermal insulation may or may not be desirable where the metal shell is provided with a wood lining.

The cam in Fig. 10 is geared to the mechanism for feeding the work holder, if the circular saws are on a fixed axis, while, if the work is stationary and the saws travel over the work in cutting the stave slots, then the cam of Fig. 10 will be geared to the mechanism for effecting longitudinal travel of the cutters. In Fig. 5 the cam should be longer than the longest barrel to be formed, in order that the work sheet may be removed and a new sheet inserted when the cutters are at each end of their travel.

The cutters illustrated form a sharp edge constituted by the base of the stave slots which should not be flat when used for a liquid tight container having no filler material in these slots. The sharp edge to the cutters requires the cutting to be done principally by the sides of the cutter, which is a different action from that of a saw. It has been found that so much power is necessary if only one cutting operation is performed that better results are believed to result from doing the cutting in two stages, the first done by a cone cutter such as is described in my prior Patent 1,909,405 and the finishing done by the cutter shown herein. The cone cutter generally has to have a blunt rather than a sharp point or apex and so cannot give a stave slot having a base which is not flat. The finishing operation by the cutters shown is comparatively light requiring nowhere near the same effort that would be necessary if the entire cutting were performed by these cutters illustrated.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a sheet containing staves tapered at least to some extent and connected by flexed stave material, the staves being formed by slots having inclined sides partially through the sheet, said slots being cut through the sheet of material containing the staves adjacent an end portion of the staves and the inclined side edges of the staves in such end portion being spaced apart a varying amount when the sheet is opened substantially flat and said slots being closed when the sheet is flexed to form the container.

2. A container comprising integrally connected ply-wood staves tapered at least at one end portion and having transversely beveled side edges adapted to contact throughout their length and to some extent throughout their depth with adjacent staves.

3. A sheet of material provided with scoring to localize hinge-like flexure, said scoring being so shaped as to limit the degree of the localize-d flexure and at the same time so shaped as to reinforce the flexed sheet against thrusts longitudinally of the scoring, said scoring extending the full length of said sheet and being deeper in some parts than in others.

4. A flexed sheet of material provided with scoring shaped to localize flexure of the sheet, and also shaped to limit the degree of the calized flexure, the sides of said scoring diverging in the plane of the sheet adjacent an end portion when the sheet is substantially flat to provide a flexed sheet of smaller diameter adjacent said end portion than away from it.

5. The combination with a metal barrel, of a ply-wood liner therefor, provided longitudinally with scoring to form integrally connected staves, said liner being contiguous the metal barrel at least adjacent the stave edges and being strong enough to help reinforce the metal of the barrel, the plys of said liner arranged with their grain running at angles to one another, to reduce the effects of moisture and temperature in the fit between the metal and wood.

6. A ply-wood sheet for forming when transversely flexed, a. bilge container with integrally connected staves tapered at least to some extent, said sheet having a permanent bowed set longitudinally of the container before being transversely flexed.

7. A multi-ply sheet of fibrous material provided with scoring to localize flexure when rolled into tubular form, said scoring being shaped to limit the amount of such localized flexure, and an intermediate ply being of a porous layer of material such as balsa wood, which has a greater therm'al insulating character than do the adjacent layers or plys.

8. A sheet of material provided with rows of scoring to localize flexure, said scoring being shaped in depth to limit the amount of localized fiexure and shaped longitudinally of the scoring to reinforce the flexed sheet against thrusts longitudinally of the scoring, adjacent rows of scoring being closer together at each end than intermediate the ends when the sheet is flexed.

9. A sheet steel barrel provided with metal heads and sides and a ply-wood liner engaged and fitted therein adjacent the heads and sides, said liner being scored on the sides to conform to the contour of the barrel and said liner also having the grain in some of the plies arranged at a substantial angle to one another to lessen the tendency of the liner to expand or contract when wet or dry.

10. A bilge barrel having staves longitudinally tapered at least to some extent and with side edges of the staves transversely beveled through substantially their entire length and integrally connected by flexible stave material throughout a substantial portion of their length.

11. A bilge barrel having staves longitudinally tapered at least to some extent and with side edges of the staves transversely beveled throughout substantially their entire length and integrally connected by flexible stave material throughout a substantial portion of their length, the beveled side edges of the staves being gradually separated an increasing amount toward an end portion when the connected staves are opened substantially flat.

12. The combination with a metal barrel, of a plywood liner engaged and fitted therein and having the grain of some of the plies arranged at a large angle to one another whereby the fit between the barrel and liner is maintained irrespective of whether the liner is wet or dry.

13. A bilge barrel comprising a sheet of mate rial having rows of V-shaped scoring of less depth than the thickness of the material and forming staves integrally connected at the base of said scoring, the end-portion of at least some of the rows of scoring being widened and deepened compared to the longitudinal mid-portion of the scoring to form V-shaped notches in the plane of the sheet between adjacent staves which are tapered at least to some extent in their endportions.

' 14. A bilge container comprising a sheet of material scored at least in one end-portion to provide V-shaped notches in the plane of the sheet and forming tapered staves in such end-portions, the side edges of said staves being beveled throughout at least the extent of said V-notches whereby the stave side edges are contiguous throughout most of their depth when flexed around a head, the beveled stave edges extending longitudinally inwardly beyond the vertices of said V-notches where said beveled edges are of less depth than they are longituchnally outwardly of the V-notch vertices.

15. A tapered barrel having a preformed metal end-portion, a circumferential liner engaged and fitted therein, said liner being of ply-wood having the grain in some of the plies arranged at a substantial angle to one another to assist in maintaining the fit betwcenthe liner and said endportion, a head contiguous the liner and endportion, said end-portion having a radially inwardly extended part contiguous and on the outside of said head, and a circumferential band contacting said liner and spaced from said preformed metal end-portion.

HAZEN L. I-IOYT. 

